Coal cleaning machine



July 29, 1952 J, AMQUR 2,604,990

COAL. CLEANING MACHINE Filed spt. 11, 195o A 2 sums-SHEET 1 `\{\p Figa*y V 4 I v l152 .,50 50 ,d

56 28 ,:.1 L@ 'g "j "l a4 l 0 IZ// 32 G o' I' o aa ' i o 4f f4 22x 24 2620 92 o E o@ /46 A 6 76- l.; g ,44 35 40 /4/0 58 48 54 44 .t E #s o @o NJames Amour Fig. 2

l INVENToR.

July 29, 1952 AMOUR 2,604,990

- COAL CLEANING MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fig] 3 MlnH /lo James Amour INVENToR.

Patented July 29, y1952 vi- :"-This invention relates to' nevvand`useful infl- -"provemets in coalcleaning 'rinaehisgenerilly Sand inparticular toV improvdlair' pifatdfrhans "foroperating1theslatedisclia1fge gate iny 'r'espnse ybreaker y unitequipped' with `lytrator' leones,

landlosing. of. theeiseharfg'e gate, and mwnich the Jreoipreoatin'gl`l`piston Vthereon will reverse its Lstrokeih: response 1to1 Hthe Waterr`level vi'n the' hy- Yclratorlhaving" reached eitlie'r-ni it'sl-prdeter-Imine'dLleve'ls; f Stili` another: .importanti object eetl-iis invntionis to provide a machine' o-ffth `l-charaicter finwhieh thedischarlg'egate will only-bei oper- =.atedin'one direction vat either-ofthe Water'l'evel --limitsiiny theihydrator Vthat Lis 4the gate-willionly :be closed` WhenA the' water level in ther hydra-tor Visfzatitslower' limit. i Y meritorious feature ofthe' pi-esent;` inven--tionresides in the' xrieansprovided-` for "controlling-thezreciprooation of the piston` rod 'inl the'. double actingcylinder,y such means being o'f a character thatk an inter've'ning4Vindp dent voc- Veu'rre'nce is required' beif'v'veenY the completion ofon'estroke and' beforetlie following strokes-an ibe'in'itiaitedt y Y fAnother Limpo'rt'az'it feature ofV the` present in- Vention, .closelyallied t'd lthe" features" setiorth in the' preCedingpragrDlfresides; -iythen'fleaI-is :responsivei' tothe water`l level in'thehydrator-dsignate similar. vparts throughoutzthe'; various vievvs, and.in whichthe ,invention-.isf designated geherallyfatA I0.: i if;

a succeeding stroke, sol asl-t 'cf'Jnstiti-ite1` the 'feh rige -ofL'W'ate'rlevel fromi onew Iiritt'tle*otlfie' astlie linterveningoccurrenc'efl f A' .nal Iiirip'ortant :feature to be speoic'allysetforthl `herein resides the linkage l s'ys'temll `be- @tween the piston'rodianql teef-valve centrer :and "theslidingbloeks that a'r'edisposedinthe travel :.pathof a portion'offalinkageasof as to acti onand .tothev actedV upon bythe' linkage'.l

These', together with various ancillary Vobjects and` features. ofth'eirwention which will `bec'cnre apparenti as' the" followingi descriptionproceeds,

Y erally! kYeslfrape'cl passageAZfintermediate its ends.

s Claims 7 (eigene-e496) ieri-ed embodiment ofvvl'lichhasbeenillustrated ly` Way oi: .exemple only the. aocompanying drawings;Wliereirif` y g;

'fgir'efl is. side Lelevationalview off the' invntio'ir -Withi:portionsl of the same 1 being' broken faWay and 'shovvn'ui'nlsectioniryn.

' Figureif2i`s a' fragmentary. topxplanv view offfthe invention,:withlnortidns o'f thefsame being breken.

awytand 'shown inr'sectionzfupon Y. the planeof' n the section linelzzin' Figure .1;1... I Y, Figure 3 is a. verticallseotional Viewv of `the;invnt'i taken upon-the `plane of the section lline Figure 4T! l is-f a.fragmentary?. 'vertical seetional `teilten upon.the.;rplaneof ;the,section line; G-i-G offFiuree; i. 4:4 4 Referentie is' now Emade'. morespeoically tofthe ac'c'on'ipanyingl drawings; wherein like AnumeralsvMounted. upona .pltiorn Iiithatrsts upon horizontal frameniefnbers el 4:is adouble--aeting oylinde'ri6" having la .pistoni H18' slidable itherein. yMearis is provided to .selectively exhaust-andini';r'oduc"e4lldl underipressure". adjacent; the opposite yends of the.' cylinder.'l-6fto cause .reciprocati'n! of the pistoni 18; Vsuch means consisting'fof a- `valveZfor'med. of a tubular valvembodyf having spaced-*lateral:ports -2`4=and26l The cylsite e'ridf; f andconduits vr3 Zand' 341 areprovided l.to

" respectively: aord vveornmunieati'onabetween the Vportslztlaridi 28,and ports .2 @and 30. vAevalve .corfmember'i is .sli'd'ableV in' thetubular-valve ..bd5'f.fr22;:jand';as clearly shovsinginy Figure 2; l'thevalve; core' .3 62 has provideditherein L-shaped.` passages/Maud .4011at its iop'posite: ends; and' a geri- Inaddition", an air pressure'line.44- :communicates With.fthe'finterior of :the-"body 22-in`termediate itsends: and exhaust line's 461and1148 communicate i with" the. interior:of'Y the? seinemdjaoent` itszopposite lends;r the.` arrangement beingsuohthat. the y:pressure line- Mha's vcor'nmuni'cation ywith thepassage-112 irrespective ofthe position ofthe core Amember,V and;y swill :bereadily understood the ydor memb'erfmay be vmovedfbetwee'npositions 3 in which the passage 42 has selective communication with oneof the conduits 32 and 34 to selectively apply pressure to the oppositeend of the piston I8. It will of course be appreciated that when the airpressure line 44 has communication with one of the conduits 32 and 34,the other conduit has communication with one of the exhaust linesthrough one of the L-shaped passages y 3,8 and 40. As thus fardescribed, the piston |8 maybe selectively driven to either one of theen'ds of the cylinder i6 by controlling the position of the valve coremember 36. y The piston I8 carries a piston rod 50 that slidably extendsthrough one of the end walls of the .y

cylinder I6. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3,

posts 52 and 54 extend upwardly fromthe' platf form |2, the post 52having pivotally-mounted upon its upper end a link 56, the link 56 beingpivoted to the post 52 intermediate its ends andY having one endpivotedto the piston rod 50 as at 58. Another link 60 has one endpivoted tothe upper end of the post 54, and the adjacentends ofthe links56 and 60 arev formed with eyesthat are rotatably received on asleeve-62 bestvshown in Figure 4. The .ends of the links-56and 60received on the sleeve 62 aredisposedbetween a pair of roller bearings64 also receivedon the sleeve 62, and the roller bearings 64 :as well asthe adjacent endsn of the links 5,6 'and .60are retained in assembledrelation on the sleeve 62 by means of a bolt 66 and washers 68. r

Guide blocks and 12 are secured tothe platform |2 by means of suitablefasteners 14 below the pivotal connection of the links 56and 60, andhave disposed slidably'thereon the slide blocks 16 and 18. As best shownin Figure 5, the lowerl portion of the slide blocks 16 and 18 areyof aninverted T configuration 80 that slide in comple- Amentary channels 82`in the .blocks V1i) and-12.

The slide blocks 16 and 18 are disposed onoppo.

site sides of the pivotal connectionbetweengthe links 56 and 60, and areeach .urged or ,biased toward the pivotal connection by means :ofbacking members 84 suitably secured to the vblocks 10 and 12 andextending upwardly therefrom, with compression springs 86 ,andl 88 beingseated between the backing members 84 and theslideblocks 16 and 18respectively. Guide rods 90 are secured to the slide blocks 16 and18which extend through the springs 88 and 86 and slidably extend lthroughsuitable apertures provided in the backing members 84. The outer ends ofVthe rods 190 are threaded and adjustment vnuts 92 provided thereon tolimit the movement oftheslidingblocks toward the pivotal connection. `ItWillbe-noted that annular bosses 94 are provided onpthe adjacent facesof the backing members 84 to slidably embrace the rods 00 and tospace-the .outer ends of the compression spring from the rods S0. Latchmeans is provided toipreventsliding movement of the blocks 16 and 1 8Atoward the pivotal connection, such means includingtubular housings 96and 08 suitably securedinLLsuitable openings .provided in Athe platform]2 and depending therefrom, in which housingA are sliclably` disposedlatch members |00 and,r|02, each of these members being urgedupwardly'by means lof compression springs |04 disposed in the lowerportions of the tubular housings 96 and 98and seatedbetween the lower`ends of thelatch members andvr yplugs |06 threaded into the lower endof the fhou'sings. The upper portion of the latch members 00 and 02 arereduced in .diameteriand'slidably proj ect upwardly through :suitableapertures Ain the, web lconnectingthe blocks 1,0 and 12 inI,ably-extends.

whichslidablyproject through elongated slots I I6 providedji-n theadjacent faces of the tubular "housings 96 and98. In addition, the latchmembers |00 and |02 are provided with transverse openings ||8intermediate their ends which received the opposite ends of the rockerlever |14,

the arrangement being such that by rocking the shaft'llo, one of thelatching members may be moved downwardly `while the other latchingmember is permitted to move upwardly through the action of` itsassociated spring |04. It will be appreciated that the shaft ||0 and therocker lever A||4 are for the purpose of releasing the latching-membersfrom the sliding block and that the openings |8may be made sucientlylarge tov allow as much independent motion to the latching members asmay be desired and which will yet permit the shaft ||0 to be rotated toa -position to disengage the latching members from the sliding blocks. YV- y Means is provided for rocking the shaft' |10.v At |20 is designatedgenerally a portion of the hydrator in which is disposed a float |22.The oat .|22carries an upright |24 that at |26 has pivotal connectionto1 a lever `4arm pivoted intermediate its endsat |30 to the body of thehydrator. The

end of theA lever arm |28 remote from the upright |24 issecured to acable |32, such cable |32 'being entrained over a pulley |34 carried bya suitable support |30, and the lower endsyof the cable |32 that thepivotal connection between the links 56 .and 60u willvmove intheopposite direction or to the left,.and vice versa. i u This `motion inthe linkage is transmitted to the' valvecore member 36 by an actuatorrod |40 having one end connectedto the valveV core memberl 36 and itsother end pivotally coupled to the link 60 intermediate its endas'at|42, it being noted that the valve body 22 is closed at one end byY aplate |44I and at the other `end by anapertured plate |46 throughwhichthe yrod |40 slid.-

. It is believed that kthe operation of the invention will bereadilyunderstood. .As an initial 'condition of-,the machine, it will beassumed that the same is in the position shownin'Figures 2 gand 3withnthe slide block 16 in itslimiting poslide'blocklt retained-by thelatch member,|02. A It/wilLbe understood thatuponfthe level ofgthe'water= in thephydrator being loweredl to apredetermined level, theshaft|10 will be rotated clockwise,as` shown in-Figure 4 to anpextent .suf-

sitin towards the pivotal connection, ,and the cient to free the latchmember |02 lfrom the slide block 18, whereuponfthe slide block 18through `the actionfof the spring A08 urges the tpivotal,connectionbetween the links 56v and 60 totheleft-asshown-in Figure 2.;Suchimoveement, of the pivotal-connection-:to the left is accompaniedAby La corresponding movement 'to theleft of the rod `which serves to4push the @valvecore member n36 to a position in whichair pressurethrough the line 44 Aisadmitted tothe provided 'in the other' left ofthe Vpiston I8 to force the vsame into a position to the right. It willbe noted that-when the lpiston I8 moves to the right, the pivotalconnection is moved tothe left so thatithe same will engage the slideblock 16 and urgethe same from the slide block 16, whereupon theslideblock I6 urges the ypivotal vconnection to the right as shown inFigure 2,such motion being accompanied by'a shift of the valvevcore-member to the right soy thatpressure -is now admitted to the righthand sideof Ithe'piston I8 to force the same to theV left. Such lmotionof the piston I8 to the left will act throughA the link 56 to force thepivotal connection to the right so as to force theslide block "I8 backrto itsinitial position with the latch member Y|02 retaining the same inthe initial position. It

V-willnow be appreciated that the machine'has proceeded through anentire cycle and is in condition for a repeat operation.

At |48 is designated generallyA the slate discharge chute in which isdisposed a gate |50 pivoted intermediate its ends atY |52. As clearly`showni in the. drawings; the gate |50. is provided with a depending arm|54, such arm |54 `having pivotal connection at |58` to one end of thepiston' rod 50 that projects'into the chute |48. Of course, Vin thepivotal connection between the arm |54'and the piston rod 50, means isprovided'for lost motion suchvas the slots' |58 pivotal connectionsthroughoutthe machine.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device willbek readily understood and further ex-plana'tionfis-A believed to beunnecessary. However, sincei numerous, modications and changes willreadily occur tothose skilled in the art after .a consideration of theforegoing specification and accompanying drawings, itis not desired tolimit the invention to the exact construction' shown and described, butall suitable modifications and vequivalentsv may be resorted to, fallingwithinthe scope of the appended claims. L,

While it is believed that the general nature of the coal cleaningmachine with which the-above invention is to be associated will beobvious to those skilled in the art when the drawings are considered inconjunction with the description thereof; however, it is believed abrief statement explaining the same will not render this specicationunduly lengthy. In this type of machine, the coal is cleaned andseparated from slate and the like hydraulically by periodic upwardsurges of Water in the mixture of coal and slate, such surges washingthe coal and causing the slate to settle below the coal. In thedrawings, such washing and separation takes place above the valve |50 inthe chute |48, conventional means being provided, not shown, tocause thewater to surge upward and the surface level thereof to fluctuate in thechute |48. The portion of the hydrator designated at has watercommunication with the chute |48 by conventional means, not shown, sothat the water level therein also fluctuates to actuate the float I 22.

'6 v.Obviously means. noti shown, are provided `as customary inmachines. of this Vtype for removingslate from below they valve |50, andalsex-for 'introducing uncleaned coal Yand removing cleaned coal from'positions above the valve |50. With-this brief explanation it isbelieved Vthat the general nature of the machine to which the presentinvention Ais appliedwill be evident to /those unfamiliar in vthe art,and thatA further description -thereof will not be needed inasmuchV assuch machines are common place and form no part of this invention. u f fl Havingfdescribed the invention, what is claimed t as newis': 15

1. vIn afcoal cleaning machine ofthe type'including a hydrator float anda slate discharge gatepa cyl-inderrhaving a piston and a piston rodslidable A`therein, means operatively connecting the piston rod `to thedischarge gate,'valvular meansV forselectively vexhausting and admittinguidunderpressure at the opposite ends of the cylinder,- means foractuating said valvular means comprising first and second linkshavingapivotal connection vat Vtheir adjacent ends, the rst link havinga `fixed pivot intermediate its ends and its remote end pivoted tothepiston rod, Ythesecond link having a fixedpivot at its remote end,movable elements disposed on opposite sides of and-in the travel pathofsaid pivotal connection, means yieldingly urging-said elements towardsthe pivotal connection, means for latching each of vsaid elementsagainst movement towards the pivotal connection, an actuator` rodconnecting the second llink to the valvular means, and means operativelyconnecting the lhydrator float to the latch means for selectivelyreleasing each of said movable elements whereby when one of themov-'able elements is released'in resp'onseto movement Aof"thefloaig it willmove thef'pivotal'connection 'towads'the other movable memberand'through the second linli and' 'actuatorrod actuate'the valvular means-"""jf2 I n' a coalj cleaning'm'achinje of ithetype including'ahydratorffloat anda slate'jdischarge vg'at'e,fa, cylinder having aipiston and apiston rod l cylinder, means for actuating said valvularmeans vcomprising rstand second links, having a 4pivotal connection attheir 'adjacent ends; the first link`having. a HXed pivot intermediate'its' ends and itsreinote end pivoted to the piston rod', the second linkhaving a fixed pivot'at its remoteend, movable elements' disposed onlopposite vsides of andlin the'travel pathfof said pivotalconnection,meansyieldingly urging said elementsy towards the pivotal connection,means for latching each of said elements against movement towards thepivotal connection,` an actuator rod connecting the second link to thevalvular means, and means operatively connecting the hydrator float tothe latch means for selectively releasing each of said movable elements,said latch means including a pair of latch members, each of which isslidable into and biased towards the travel path of one of said movableelements, said means connecting the float to the latch means including arock shaft yhaving a rocker lever thereon connected to the latchmembers.

3. In a coal cleaning machine of the type including a hydrator float anda slate discharge gate, a cylinder having a piston and a piston rodslidable therein, means operatively connecting 7 the` piston, rod to.the diSCha-rgegate, valvular means -for selectively exhausting, andadmitting .uid under pressure at the :opposite endsgof'the cylinder,means for actuating said valvular means comprising first'and,fseco'ndjlinks having a pivotal 'connection at their-adjacent' ends,Vthe iirst link having a xed pivotintermediate,its ends and its remoteend pivotedto th'evpiston rod, the second link having a fixed pivot:at'its remote end,

movable elements dispcsedon opposite sidesof and in the travel path ofsaid pivotal connection, means yieldingly urging .said elements towardsthe pivotal connection, means forllatching each of said elements againstmovement towards the pivotal connection, Van actuatorr rod connectingVthe secondvlink to the valvularl means, means ley mounted on a support,an elongated flexiblev .element entrained overthe pulley and having` itsopposite endsv secured tothe opposite ends of the lever arm, a -further,lever-having a fixed pivot intermediate its endswith one of its -endssecured to the hydrator float and its other end secured to thefleiible'element.

4. In a coal cleaning machine, a cylinder having a piston and a pistonrod slidable therein, valvular means for selectively exhausting andadmitting fluid under pressure atopposite ends of the cylinder, meansfor actuating said valvular means comprising first and second linkshaving a pivoted connection at their adjacent ends, the rst link havinga xed pivot intermediate its ends andA its remote end pivotedto thepiston rod, the second link having a xed pivot 'ati its remote end,movable elements disposed on opposite 'sides of Aand in the travel pathof said pivotal connection,

means yieldingly urging said elements towards the pivotal iconnection,means for latching eachrv of said elements against movement towards thepivotal connection, and an` actuator rod connecting the second link tothe valvular means. s

5. In a coal cleaning machine of a cylinder having a piston and a pistonrod slidable therein, valvular means for selectively exhausting andadmitting fluid under `pressure at opposite ends of the cylinder tocause reciprocation of the piston rod, means for controlling saidvalvular means comprising rst and second links havinga pivotal 55connection at their adjacent ends, the rst link having a fixed pivotintermediate its ends and' its remote end pivoted to the piston rod,thev second link having a 'ixed pivot at itsremote ends, a

; basel disposed adjacent the pivotal com iection,

blocks slidably mounted Von. the Abase `n n-opposite sides "of vthepivotalconnection, spaced backing 1 members onj the base, compre ssio nsprings interposed between the j backing members andjthe blocks'urgingAthe' blocks `towards the pivotal connection,` latchng members slilably`mounted in the base and movable into and out of the travel path of`the'blocks,A means lfor selectively moving said latching memberaand anAactuator rod connecting thezseconl link to thevalvular means.l

16. `In a coal eleaningmachine of a Y cylinder having a piston and apiston rod slidable therein, valvular means `forselectivelyexhaustingand ad- `mitting efluid. u nder pressurewatopposite ends of the cylinder to vcause reciprocation of the piston rod,meansfor.,-controllingjsaid valvular means comprisingrst and secondlinks having a pivotal connection at theiradjacentends, the nrst linkAhaving'a;niged-pivotintermediate its ends and its remoteendpivoted tothe piston rod, the second link having .a xed pivot at its remote ends,a base disposed adjacent the pivotal connection, blocks slidably mountedon the base on oppositeA sides ofthe .pivotal connection, spaced backingmembers :on the base, helical compression springs' interposed betweenthe backing `members andthe blocks urging the `blocks towards thepivotal connection, a' guide rodse- Ycured to each of thebloc'ks', saidguiderod extendingv through one of thel compression springs and'slidablyextending through one of the backing members, a stop vcarried by Atheguide rod engageable .with the vbacking member to li'mit movement oftheblockassociated therewithtowards the pivotal. connection, ,latchingvmembers slidably mounted in the base .and movable into and out Vof thetravel path lofthe blocks, means for selectively v, moving" said,flatclfling members, and an actuator rodconnecting'the second linktolthe valvular means.V j vJAMES AMOUR l f .The followingreferenceslare-'tifl record inthe fileof this patent: i l' u V,.IJN'ITED'STATES PATENTS ."fNeme r Date, 1,306,493 v Norton May 19,1931 I2,`{12l,5'6 Norton June 3, 1947 212133,32@ Norton Dec.-'22.;.194'1 FOREIGNPATENTS l l Number o AvCourir/fry o i "i Date Y292,863 `Grez't'tf'Britain`' June 28, 1928 '627,166 `Germany Mar. 10,1936 Germany May 1s, 1936

